Reliability of axial landmarks for pedicle screw placement in the lower lumbar spine.
METHODS
Measurements were made on transverse-plan, computed tomography scans from three different patient groups.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the correlation between two previously described pedicle screw entry points to the pedicle axis and the predicted frequency of pedicle breakthrough from the use of a 6.5-mm screw placed parallel to the pedicle axis.


BACKGROUND
Fluoroscopic assistance improves the accuracy of pedicle screw placement. Whether this is a result of improved accuracy of the starting point or correct directional guidance is unclear. No morphologic studies have been done to assess the accuracy of previously described entry points.


METHODS
Computerized digitizing and mathematic superimposition of the images from computed tomography scans of the low lumbar spine were used to quantify facet and pedicle anatomy and the correlation between two previously described entry points and the pedicle axis.


RESULTS
The two previously described entry points are significantly medial to the pedicle axis. They are most medial at the L5 pedicle in patients with L4 degenerative spondylolisthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
The two previously described entry points for pedicle screws in the low lumbar spine that were studied here are not reliable and tend to direct screw placement medial to the pedicle axis enough to lead to a substantial frequency of pedicle breakthrough for screws parallel to this axis. Surgeons implanting screws should take this tendency into account and use alternative methods to obtain accurate entry to the pedicle.
Robertson
P A
PA
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Novotny
J E
JE
Grobler
L J
LJ
Agbai
J U
JU
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure